737 Naval Air Squadron
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737 Naval Air Squadron was a Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm. It was initially active during 1943 as an amphibious Bomber Reconnaissance Training Squadron. Reactivated in 1944 it operated as an ASV Training Unit until 1945. It was active again between 1949 and 1957. From 1959 it was the Anti-Submarine Warfare school at RNAS Portland. It operated Westland Wessex HAS.3 rescue helicopters from their land base at RNAS Portland, Dorset.
An operational Fleet Air Arm Westland Wessex HAS.1 of 737 Squadron NAS at RNAS Yeovilton in 1966. The PO code indicates the squadron base at RNAS Portland, Dorset.
XM836, Westland Wessex HAS.3, 737 Naval Air Squadron
Westland Wessex HAS.3 of 737 Naval Air Squadron. Seen here being lifted from the ocean by the salvage vessel RFA Kinbrace following it's crash on 15 July 1974 while on approach to RNAS Portland
XP142 Humphrey, Westland Wessex HAS.3 from HMS Antrim
Westland Wessex
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The Westland Wessex is a British-built turbine-powered development of the Sikorsky H-34. It was developed and produced under licence by Westland Aircraft. One of the main changes from Sikorsky's H-34 was the replacement of the piston-engine powerplant with a turboshaft engine. Early models were powered by a single Napier Gazelle engine, while later builds used a pair of de Havilland Gnome engines.
Westland Wessex
Cockpit
A pair of Royal Navy Wessex helicopters on the flight deck of HMS Intrepid, 1968
Troops embarking on a Westland Wessex during a training exercise